Disclaimer: I do not own any characters or elements relating to Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir.

Miraculous: Borderline

Chapter 18: Breaking Through

The bakery smelled sweet and was filled with racks of croissants and pastries. The light outside was waning and the shop was lit with a merry golden glow.

The conversation, however, was anything but golden.

Nino Lahiffe shared a worried glance with Alya.

"Are you sure she's not in her room?" Nino asked Marinette's mom.

Sabine Cheng shook her head, her confused expression matching Nino's and Alya's. "No, she's not. She didn't answer when I called, and when I came up to check on her, she was gone!"

Sabine turned to look at her husband, who patted her shoulder.

"I'm sure Marinette will turn up somewhere," Tom Dupain said reassuringly. "She sometimes gets an idea and just runs off without telling us. She's forgetful sometimes."

At that, Sabine and Alya nodded. Marinette was known for disappearing without warning.

"Okay, thanks," Alya said. "We just wanted to talk to her."

Nino and Alya walked out of the bakery and Alya crossed her arms. Nino glanced at her furrowed brow and put a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm sure she's alright, Alya," Nino said assuredly.

Alya huffed out a breath. "It's not just that, Nino. Marinette's been acting strange for the past few weeks. She's more distractful than usual and she's really distant."

Alya's face fell. "She's changed so much. I have to wonder what's up with that girl. Did something happen? Why didn't she tell me?"

Nino opened his mouth to say something when he saw a flash of black. He took a few steps forward and turned back to look at Alya, who stared down at the ground with a thoughtful frown, muttering to herself.

Nino was about to say something to her when he heard a hiss.

"Psst! Over here!"

Nino warily walked around the bakery and saw no one.

"What?" he said. "Who's there?"

"I'm right here," came the squeaky voice and suddenly a kwami flew in front of him.

The kwami was a black so dark he almost shone purple, and his eyes were slitted black ringed with gold and leaf-green.

Nino gasped. "Dude! Are you—"

The kwami shushed him. "I'm Cat Noir's kwami, Plagg, and here's his miraculous."

The kwami dropped a silver ring into Nino's palm.

"Hurry and put it on!" the kwami urged. "There's not much time! Ladybug and Cat Noir need your help!"

Nino stared at the ring for a moment.

This day is getting weirder and weirder.

"Okay," Nino said, and he put on the ring.

Adrien was starting to think that Plagg had gotten lost or—worse—caught, when suddenly, as Ladybug was about to take off her miraculous earrings and give them to Hawk Moth, Cat Noir burst in through the shattered window and landed in a crouch.

"Back off, Hawk Moth," Cat Noir snarled.

Hawk Moth's whirled around to stare dumbfoundedly at Adrien.

"What—" he started. "But how is that possible?"

Oh. He thought I was Cat Noir.

What a disaster it would've been if Adrien had transformed. Adrien suddenly felt a rush of relief and gratitude for Plagg.

Good thinking, Plagg.

Hawk Moth recovered quickly and pointed at Cat Noir. "Get his miraculous!" he commanded Ladybug.

Ladybug moved to intercept Cat Noir but Cat Noir was ready. He flipped over her head and in mid-air, pulled off her earrings.

Ladybug's costume vanished to be replaced with Marinette Dupain-Cheng.

Adrien gasped, his mind reeling.

So it was her!

Cat Noir reached out to grab Marinette's purse but Marinette lashed out with a hard side-kick. Cat Noir flew back several feet and crashed through several marble statues standing at the edge of the room.

Marinette stalked forward, and Cat Noir stirred.

Hawk Moth's lips curled into a smile as he watched the events unfolding.

I have to do something, Adrien thought.

He started getting up off the chair to tackle Hawk Moth when Cat Noir suddenly exploded forward, his hand encased in his cataclysmic power. His hand touched Marinette's purse and disintegrated it, releasing Marinette once more from Hawk Moth's spell.

"What?" Marinette gasped, staring down at her hands.

Cat Noir shoved her Ladybug earrings at her. "Here! Quick! Hawk Moth is right there!"

Marinette turned to stare at Hawk Moth in shock. The two of them shared an unreadable look for a few seconds until Marinette's eyes hardened. She reached up and decisively attached the miraculous earrings to her ear.

Tikki appeared, and the look on her tiny face upon seeing Marinette was absolute joy.

"Tikki, spots on!" Marinette called, and she transformed into the miraculous Ladybug.

Hawk Moth stumbled back as Ladybug and Cat Noir launched themselves at him. The ceiling shuddered as Hawk Moth was kicked into the wall with enough force to break bones.

Ladybug and Cat Noir leapt through the hole in the wall and scanned the adjacent room for Hawk Moth but he had disappeared. Again.

Ladybug paused for a moment before turning back to walk over to Adrien.

"Are you okay?" she asked, and Adrien lost his breath as he stared into her sapphire blue eyes.

Marinette is Ladybug.

"Yeah," Adrien breathed out.

Ladybug smiled, almost shyly, and opened her mouth to say something else. That was when Chloe walked into the mansion, her tread cautious and careful.

"Marinette?" Chloe asked. "Are you—"

Ladybug quickly walked over to Chloe and said, "I'm glad you're alright. Everything's fixed. It's all back to normal."

Ladybug leaned over and whispered something in Chloe's ear. Chloe nodded.

Ladybug stepped back and said, "Tikki, spots off."

Tikki reappeared as Marinette's costume vanished. "Here, Chloe," Marinette said, removing her earrings. "Give this back to Ladybug for me and tell her 'Thank you for trusting me.'"

The two rivals shared an unreadable look for a moment, their eyes flashing with an unsaid secret.

Then Chloe took the earrings and nodded. "I will."

End of Chapter 18: Breaking Through